BEIRUT — Syria's vice president says the army cannot defeat the rebel forces fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

The interview with Farouk al-Sharaa in a Lebanese newspaper offered a bleak view of the situation in Syria that is rarely heard from high level government officials who justify the bloody crackdown on dissent as a necessary battle against terrorists.

Al-Sharaa was quoted as saying the military onslaught on the opposition will not lead to definitive victory after 21 months of conflict.

The full interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper was published on Monday as rebel forces were moving closer to Damascus, Assad's seat of power.